SEALS. 213 
My own experience of the Northern Fur Seal (Callotaria wrsina), 
and its apparent apathy in the water when in close proximity to its 
enemy, the Killer, makes it seem highly probable that if the seals of 
the Antarctic be only half as foolish as the Fur Seals—a supposition 
which seems to be well-nigh proved by the ease with which they 
allow themselves to be killed by man—then many would easily fall 
victims to the Killers or sharks, who might scar many more than 
they eat, either in a mere spirit of wantonness, or, if well fed, through 
sheer half-heartedness in securing their prey. It is significant that 
Mr. Bull’s experience of the pack was gained in December and 
January, exactly at the time when Mr. Bruce found the seals heavily 
scarred, but improving in condition. It seems probable that on the 
pack in January and February they are safe from their enemies, 
whoever they be. It may be that food is then so abundant that 
there is no need to leave the pack for the purpose of obtaining it, 
and so the seals escape exposure to the attacks of their enemies. It 
may be that those enemies are migratory, as the Killer is said to be, 
and have already betaken themselves to other regions. At all events 
the subject is well worthy of further attention. 
Besides his account of the scars observed on the seals, Mr. Bull’s 
most interesting statements are (for a naturalist) the fact that, while 
all four species were observed in the pack, they were evidently in no 
great numbers. The whole catch, in fact, reached only 180 skins. 
Capt. C. A. Larsen, of the Norwegian whaler Jason, has given us 
a few notes * as the result of his visits to the regions east of Graham 
Land in 1892-93 and 1893-94. At some places seals (the species is 
not specified) were found in enormous numbers, especially in locali- 
ties ““where there were plenty of small fishes and shrimps.” One 
hundred and twenty-five Fiskerel, killed on December 1st, 1893, are 
described as being “very big and fat.” On December 11th, near * 
Christensen Island, “The seals lay in places so closely packed that 
we had to make circles in order to advance. It was a delightful 
sight to see those masses of avimals, most of which proved to be 
youngsters of the Fiskerel, which already had changed hair; they 
were beautifully fed, and looked like so many balls. Here and there 
an old animal was amidst the youngsters. The seals were not a bit 
afraid of us; on the contrary, they stretched their flippers towards us 
as we pelted them. . . . There must have been here abundant food 
for the seals, as the ice was everywhere strewn with fishes and fish- 
bones. When I opened the stomachs of the seals I saw them filled 
* See the Geographical Journal, vol. iii, January to June, 1894, pp. 239 and 336; 
also vol. iv., pp. 333 to 344. 
